As the first term of this academic year draws to a close, it’s always a good time to reflect on how your child is doing at school! Parents are often concerned that they don’t have the information they really need to track their child’s progress in a meaningful way. Parents’ evenings are at best an […]
Selective schools are increasingly relying on interviews to help them as part of their final selection decisions. Some schools will use the classic one-to-one interview, some prefer group interviews, and some use a combination of both approaches. The keys to success in this form of assessment are letting children know roughly what to expect and […]
Homework basics A regular time and place for your child to do their homework is essential, so this isn’t negotiable each day. Agree with them when they will work after school, timing it so they have had a chance to unwind and have a snack before they start. Then remove any possible distractions such as […]
How can you make a difference to your child’s learning this summer? Ah, the endless lazy days of summer! Our children’s lives often seem to be timetabled from breakfast to bedtime during term time and it’s great to have a change in routine, let them sleep in (if they ever will!), take a break from […]
The summer is an important time for working towards the state selective schools’ entrance exams. If your child is sitting these exams, it is important that revision and practice continues so that they don’t lose momentum and focus. Of course, children need to relax and enjoy themselves too. Therefore, most families prefer to get revision […]
The 7+ is the descriptive name given to the entrance exams set by an increasing number of independent schools for pupils wishing to gain admission into their Year 3. 7+ entrance exams may be simply for admission into a selective preparatory school, which will then prepare the child for Common Entrance exams to gain a […]
Many parents remain confused about how their child is doing at school; with the best of intentions, a short appointment at a parents’ evening and a standard school report cannot give them the full picture. To make informed decisions about their child’s future, and to be sure they are aiming for the senior school that […]
The Christmas holidays are the ideal time for family fun, great food, party games and outings. The learning needn’t stop at this time, but it should be kept fun and festive, with classic board games helping improve word power, from Boggle to Scrabble to Articulate, and others such as Monopoly requiring a little numeracy (and […]
Our experience tells us that parental involvement is key to children performing to the best of their ability at school. It can really make the difference between under-performance and success. Nature vs. nurture Science has yet to identify the gene responsible for intelligence and there is disagreement about the amount of intelligence that is inherited. […]
Reading is vitally important in the development of thinking, expressing ideas, expanding vocabulary, and communication skills. Of course, it’s also important for pure enjoyment! Some children are reluctant readers. They need encouragement and stimulation with whatever type of reading matter you can find that interests them. Other children would happily have their head in a […]
In previous blogs, we have covered the question of when you should and shouldn’t tutor your child and, if you decide to do so, what you should look for in a tutor. At this time of year, parents’ thoughts turn to the summer holidays and whether a child will need tutoring support during that long […]
At JK Educate we help families deal with every stage of education, from 7+ entrance exams and SATs to A levels and University applications. Entire families can get weighed down with the ongoing pressure for children to succeed, but there are many tactics parents can use to lighten the load. Here are a few simple […]
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